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It was 60 days in the past that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager admonished him for not reading a through-ball. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his performances were a sign or the source for the team's more general malaise.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

In the latest match, however, the manager's outburst was entirely much more joyous. After Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. Villa continued to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

This is an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, their performances haven't been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.

Per Opta, twice all season have Villa registered an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a side who have put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem strangely fragile – but currently the margins are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and wait for Rogers to bail them out with two crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired in London, and it happened versus Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. Against United, the opponents managed more efforts and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.

A statistical correction might be the biggest rival they will encounter as the season progresses. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot keep on thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Could it be an alternative path where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.

• The main striker might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the force he was during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would be third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as an essential Three Lions star.

The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As the match-winner stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.